The Shanghai Disney Resort celebrates its grand opening today, becoming the second park of its kind in China and the third in Asia. What will it bring to the increasingly crowded family of amusement parks in China, and even Asia?
Roller coaster, carousel,ferris wheel... Amusement parks -- many of them very similar in substance -- are attracting more and more visitors. Asia has become a major market player, with an increase in global market share from 35% to 42%, while North America, which once enjoyed 52% of the market in 2005, shrinking to 47% in 2015.
The theme parks and amusement attractions have become a new investment trend, as an estimated 2,500 amusement parks spread out in China's metropolises as well as in the countryside. But is it possible to survive the fierce competition and make your performance report standout?
Two weeks ago, Wanda Group, a entertainment giant in China, announced the opening of its first entertainment park in Jiangxi Province in the Southeastern part of China, about 600 km from Shanghai. Now the Shanghai Disney resort, just 50 kilometres from Happy Valley, opens to the public. Will that be a threat to the Happy Valley?
“Disney's coming into Chinese market is a good thing for us, actually, because it brings quality competition to this market,”said Zhao Shuai, marketing manager of Shanghai Happy Valley Amusement Park.
"The Disney park is more like a place for family activity with the kids."
"I will also go to the Disney park. But Happy Valley is more thrilling."
In 2015, the world’s top 25 theme parks or amusement parks received over 230 million visitors, a 5.4% increase. In the Asia region, the increase in general was just under seven percent, but some particular parks in China saw an increase of between 35% to 170%.Competition is fierce, yet the market is still big enough for more quality amusement parks to settle here.